Scientific name - Vaccinium myrtillus L.

Synonyms - Vaccinetum myrtilli

Popular names - affiné, bilberry, whortleberry, Huckleberry, heidelbeere, cesarelle, mirtillo.

Distribution and Habitat - Amercica originating in Northern Europe and Asia, grows in mountain areas up to 2500 m altitude in wet environments in semi-shade, the land poor in nitrogen and acid associated with Vaccinium vitis-idea, Agrostis tenuis , Carex pilulifera, Daphne pontica, Empetrum nigrum, Ledum paludous, Oxalix acetosella, Picea abies, Rumez acetosella, Trientalis europaea.

Description - bush mono, deciduu, lignificat based, 50 cm height. Branches green edges. Brown-green bark. Leaves alternate, petiole short, oval-elliptical lamina, the round, top acute, margin evening, glabra. Flowers hermaphrodite, the armpit leaves, clocks, solitary, sometimes two, calyx with 4-5 sepa corola tubular, 8-10 stamens. Blooms in May-June. Fruit Baca flashy, blue-purple, covered with a layer of pruina. Seeds brown, crescent shape. 2n = 24

Growth rate - slowly.

Tolerances --

Requirements - mountain acid soils, well drained.

Management - new plants are obtained fertilizeaza to 10 weeks after germination and at 12 weeks you can transplant. After harvesting the fruit can be applied to cuts to stimulate new growth.

Propagation - by seeds. Peel the seeds in water, then let it dry. It looks like on a substrate moisture, seeds germinate at 13-18 ° C.

Diseases and pests - Eudia Pavone.

Partners garden --

Cultivars --

Properties and Uses - The leaves and fruits have astringent properties, anti-inflammatory, antisepticice. Leaves collected in June-July, the fruits mature in August. The leaves are dried in the shade and preserved in paper bags, the fruits are used fresh or made marmalades.

Fruits of Vaccinium have astringent properties and antidiareice disorders, particularly for children.

Blueberries are good protective properties and Antihemorrhagics vessels and stimulating the perception / visual arts, in the case of low light, useful motorists, sportsmen and students.

Internal use - fruit, decoction of 5 g in 100 ml of water. Spoon fruit juice.

External use - fruit for skin inflammations. Apply the juice or pulp by interested parties, wash and gargle. Tincture of 20 g in 100 ml of alcohol 80 °, place it soak for 15 days. 10-20 drops in a glass of water.

Dried fruits, due to its high tannin result of a good astringent, antimicrobial and absorbent forms useful in diarrhea, becauseopii and old. Can be used juice without sugar and filtered, diluted with water. Recently it was discovered that fruits contain substances used to treat enteritelor.

Curiosity - in fruits are found up to 7% tannin, vitamin A, B, C, potassium, iron, and fructoziu dyes.

Species Vaccinium uliginosum fruits are like black-blue, older leaves and on the underside glauca; branches brown and cylindrical. Vaccinium vitis-idea and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi are distinguished by evergreen foliage and red-pink fruit. Vaccinium oxycoccus has red fruits and evergreen leaves.

Flowers full of nectar are visited by Osmia bicolor.

Plinio slave clothes brand cranberry juice.

References

David E. Allen and Gabrielle Hatfield - Medicinal Plents in Folk Tradition - Timber Press, 2004

Shawn M. Talbott, Kerry Hughes - The Health Professional 's Guide to Dietary Supplements - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006